The Saluki volleyball team continues (2-9, 1-8 MVC) its four-game losing streak after a 3-1 loss on Feb. 28 against the Bradley Braves.

Southern had an early start winning the first set 25-20, but Bradley gained back the momentum and took the next three sets to win the match.

Bradley led the Salukis in kills (57-56), blocks (11.0-6.0), digs (81-77) and they tied in service aces (5-5).

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Junior outside hitter Hannah Thompson led the Braves in kills (17), service aces (2) and points (20). Redshirt junior outside hitter Hannah Becker led the Salukis in kills (14), blocks (5) and points (17). 

Bradley took an early 4-2 lead in the first set from attack errors from the Salukis and kills from Thompson.

SIU gained the lead 7-5, with redshirt freshman outside hitter Alex Washington’s service ace and a kill by Becker.

Southern kept the lead, 11-9, despite the Braves’ effort with kills by freshman middle hitter Imani Hartfield and Washington and attack errors from Bradley.

The Salukis gained a five point lead, 15-10, from two kills by Washington and a kill by freshman outside hitter Tatum Tornatta, along with attack errors from sophomore middle blocker Raeann Bergman and Thompson.

Bradley tied the score 16-16 after two attack errors from redshirt senior middle hitter Emma Baalman and kill by Thompson. 

SIU managed to regain the lead 19-16, from two kills by Becker and a service ace from Baalman.

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The Salukis won the first set 25-20 after a close battle with the Braves. Three consecutive kills from Hartfield, Washington and senior setter Rachel Maguire helped seal the victory.

The second set began with both teams trading kills and the lead changing several times, neither team gaining more than a one-point lead.

Bradley surged ahead of the Salukis, 14-11, after a kill by Thompson and two attack errors by Washington.

The set continued to be very close with both teams fighting hard to gain the lead, but the Braves came out on top, 25-22, after a kill by Bergman splitting the game 1-1.

Bradley carried the momentum from the win into the third set gaining a 7-4 lead after kills by Doga Topcicek and Bergman and an attack error from Baalman.

SIU fought back to get within one point of the Braves with kills by Washington and Baalman.

Neither team was able to gain enough momentum to stretch the lead further than two points.

An 8-2 run by the Braves with kills by Thompson, junior outside hitter Kat Poore and junior setter Kora Kauling gave them the win in the third set 25-20 and they gained a 2-1 lead in the game.

Scoring was close in the beginning of the fourth set, both teams getting kills and having errors. The scored tied 10-10 after a kill by Washington.

Bradley gained a 14-11 lead after a four-point run from a kill by Kauling and several errors by SIU.

The Braves continued to lengthen their lead from attack errors by Washington and a kill by Bergman, giving them the largest lead of the game 19-13.

Bradley won the fourth set 25-15, after kills by Kauling and sophomore right side Karagan Coggin and many attack errors from the Salukis. This win gave the Braves the 3-1 victory in the game.

The Salukis will take on Bradley again on Mar. 1 at the Renaissance Center at 3 p.m.

Staff reporter Janae Mosby can be reached at jmosby@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @mosbyj.

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